MANILA – Starting today, backriding or pillion riding on motorcycles for couples who are living together has been allowed by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
However, there should be a protective shield between the two riders, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque pointed out, citing the prototype plastic shield proposed by Gov. Arthur Yap of Bohol.
According to Roque, the backriding cohabiting couples should also show proof like identification cards and a photocopy of marriage certificate.
“Pwede na pero kailangan ang mag-asawa na sumunod sa minimum public health standards,” Roque said Thursday.
For his part, Interior secretary Eduardo Año said backriding for couples will be implemented nationwide in areas under modified general community quarantine and general community quarantine.
Año added that the protective shield should cover past the head and there should also be handles attached to its poles. Both passenger and the rider should still wear face masks and helmets.
“Dapat may barrier in between the rider and the passenger para hindi magkaraoon ng hawaan ng COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). I a-approve din naman kaagad ‘yan ng technical working group,” Ano said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
“Maganda ito sapagkat talagang protektado ‘yung passenger pero s’yempre kailangan dito ang pag-iingat sa pagda-drive. Dapat susunod talaga tayo sa speed limit at saka kakaibang panahon ito, nabago natin configuration ng motorsiklo dapat dobleng pag-iingat sa pagda-drive,” he added.
Since March, local officials have been urging policy makers on COVID-19 response to reconsider its no back-riding policy, which they enforced to keep people away from the virus.
The task force has previously rejected the requests, citing issues on safety and enforcement./PN
